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MANILA (UPDATE) - The workers' union of ABS-CBN, the Philippines' leading media and entertainment organization, is planning to file a petition in intervention before the country's high court against the closure order on the network, its head said Sunday.

ABS-CBN president and CEO Carlo Katigbak earlier told senators the company may "consider" retrenching workers by August if it fails to resume broadcast operations soon, citing financial constraints.

• ABS-CBN may 'consider' retrenchment by August if it fails to resume airing: CEO

"Dun sa petition namin, dun (ilalahad) namin kung ilan talaga ang maaapektuhan na manggagawa at yung mga pamilya nila. Ibig pong sabihin, kung gaano kalaki ang impact nito sa mga pamilya ng manggagawa ng ABS-CBN," Jon Villanueva, president of ABS-CBN Rank and File Employees' Union, told ABS-CBN Teleradyo.

(We will lay down in our petition the number of workers and their families who are really affected; meaning, the impact of this to the families of the workers of ABS-CBN.)

ABS-CBN was forced to halt its broadcast operations on May 5 after the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) went back on its commitment to issue a provisional authority for its continued operations beyond the lapse of its franchise on May 4.

The network, which has some 11,000 workers, has asked the Supreme Court to block the NTC's order.

• ABS-CBN goes to Supreme Court for broadcast resumption

Lawyer Romulo Macalintal said a petition in intervention by employees of the media giant is allowed, noting that they are a "real party in interest," having been affected by the NTC's cease and desist order.

"Umasa na lamang tayo na ang ating mga mahistrado sa Korte Suprema ay mapag-aaralang mabuti yan at mabibigyan ng consideration ang plight ng ating mga empleyado," he told ABS-CBN Teleradyo in a separate interview.

(Let's hope the Supreme Court justices will study this well and will give consideration to the plight of the employees.)

"Kasi dito, wala namang injury that would be caused for the government kapag na-issue yung temporary restraining order dahil hindi naman sila (ABS-CBN) kalaban. Kikita pa nga ang gobyerno in terms of taxes."

(Issuing a temporary restraining order will not cause injury to the government, it will even make them earn in terms of taxes.)

Workers of the network were "saddened" by the management's announcement about possible retrenchment, Villanueva said.

"Sobrang nalungkot kami. Talagang nangangamba kami. Di makatulog yung karamihan ng miyembro. Syempre, kumbaga parang expected na nila, pero ang bigat pa rin sa kaloooban," he said.

(We are very sad. We are worried. Many of our members cannot go to sleep. While that seem to be expected, but of course, it pains them.)

"Di rin naman namin masisi ang kumpanya kasi talaga namang doble yung dagok na nararamdaman ng kumpanya. Bukod dito sa COVID-19, pangalawa itong sa prangkisa. Pipilitin namin ang lahat ng paraan upang hindi mauwi sa tanggalan."

(We cannot blame also the company because it is facing a double whammy. Aside from the COVID-19, there is this franchise issue. We will try all means to avoid retrenchment.)

Lawmakers last week said they would start tackling measures seeking to grant ABS-CBN a fresh 25-year franchise.

• House drops ABS-CBN's provisional franchise, to tackle bills for 25-year license
• TIMELINE: Will ABS-CBN get a new broadcast franchise?

news.abs-cbn.com is the official news website of ABS-CBN Corp.